Portable vapor bath



July 15, 1941. 5, J 0 2,249,436

PORTABLE VAPOR BATH Filed April 25, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l NVENTOR A TTORNEY July 15, 1941. s. J. PRESTON PORTABLE VAPOR BATH Filed April 25, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 15, 1941 PORTABLE VAPOR BATH Samuel J. Preston, Newark, N. J,

Application April 25, 1940, Serial No. 331,5I

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in portablevapor baths for administering vapor and warm air baths in the treatment of various diseases.

An. object of this invention is to provide a pliable and collapsible tubular container having an opening at each end, one endof the container having means for securing same around a receptacle for a liquid, and the other end being adapted to closely encircle the neck of a patient.

Another object of this. inventionis to provide a receptacle in the lower end portion of the container, the receptacle being adapted for vaporizing a liquid and to provide superposed coarse and fine screens in said receptacle for reducing the wetness of the vapor.

Another object of this invention is to provide a portable vapor bath comprising a pliable and collapsible tubular container having an. .elongated opening therein extending substantially from end to end of the container, and having fastening means whereby the edges of the said opening may be released from each other, and may be intimately closed throughout its entire lineal extent.

With the above and other objects in view, the

invention will be hereinafter more particularly described, and the combination and arrangement of 7 parts will be shown in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims which form part of this specification. Reference will now be had to the drawings, wherein like numerals of reference will designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which:

Figure l is a fragmentary perspective view of the portable vapor bath.

Figure 2 is a perspective View of the portable vapor bath as applied in connection with a cot, with the patient in lying position.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the portable vapor bath-with the patient in a sitting position.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention shown in Figure l, the numeral It) indicates a portable vapor bath appliance comprising a tubular container ll preferably made of pliable and collapsible materials such as oil silk, rubber, or other suitable material.

The appliance It! includes a receptacle [2 for a liquid 13. A heating element M has been placed in the receptacle I2. The heating element 14 is preferably an electric heating pad having a resistance conductor connected by means of an electric cord 15 to an electric plug I6.

A control switch or rheostat I! has been ar- 4 through only of vapor.

ranged in circuit with the electric cord l5 and acts as acontrolling device for the electric cirwit. The physician or patient adjusts the rheostat "to permit more or less current topass through the heating element M to. raise or lower the temperature as desired and to obviatethe risk ofoverheating.

The receptacle has a coarse screen [8 above theliquid. 3. The screen I3 is preferably made of. coarse; wire mesh and serves to prevent large globules of hot liquid from passing upwardly.

The receptacle 12 also has a fine screeni l9 in superposed relation with the coarse screen I8. The screen 49 is preferably made of fineiwire mesh of a size which will allow passage there- The screens E8 and I9 thus serve to reduce the wetness of the vapor entering the container H.

The lower end portion 20 of the container H has been secured in circuinscribingsealing relation around the container by means of .a gasket 2| contacting the container surface and a cir-' cumscribingsband or wire 22, the ends of which are knotted or otherwise suitably secured (not shown).

A detachable:arm,24 having a substantially T- shaped upper end 25-has slots 26, 26, shaped like key-holes at its lower end. The circular lower ends of the key-hole slots serve for receiving the headsof's'crews 21, 211 The screws serve to attach the: arm 25 solelyand directly to the receptacle l2. The arm 25 prevents collapse of the tubular container and holds the container open so the vapor can travel freely upwardly.

An opening 28 has been formed in one side of the tubular container H. Theop'ening 281s coextensive with the length of the container. A slide closure fastener. means 29 commercially known as thefzipper type hasbeen applied to a any fastener means adapted to latch and form a metal seam that can be completely separated by the manipulation of a sliding body from end to end of the opening may be used.

The side of the container adjacent the rheostat I! has a slit 30 through which the patient may extend his hand for operating the rheostat I: so as to regulate the heat inside the container I Figure 2 shows the portable appliance 10 used in conjunction with a patient lying on a cot 3|. It will be noted that the vaporizing end portion 32 of the appliance has been elongated to make the container H fully collapsible to permit its passage between bedposts (not shown) and then attached to the receptacle [2.

Figure 3 shows the portable appliance l0 used in conjunction with a chair 33. It will be noted that the patient is inside the container 1 1, up to his neck and in sitting position. As shown in the drawings, the neck portion is much smaller than the body portion of the container or envelope, so as to fit around the neck of the patient.

As best shown in Figure 2, it is to be noted that the appliance disclosed herein makes it possible for a bed-ridden patient to be given a vapor bath while lying on the bed and without bein raised therefrom. The appliance makes it possible to be placed fiat on the bed with the'elongated opening therein at one side of the patient and to roll the patient into the container ll without raising any portion of the patients body. The zipper is then closed and the electric current turned on.

. In accordance with the patent statutes I have described and illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention, but it will be understood thatv various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the-appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. In an apparatus for treating disease, an elongated pliable and collapsible tubular envelope of a size adapted to inclose the entire body of a patient while exposing the head of the patient, said envelope being sufliciently pliable to permit being placed flat on a bed substantially throughout its entire length, a receptacle for a liquid positioned at the foot end of said envelope, means at the foot end portion of said envelope and being detachably secured to said receptacle for preventing said envelope from collapsing the head end portion of said pliable envelope being adapted to fit the neck of the patient, saidfoot end portion having an opening, heating means for vaporizing a liquid and communicating with said opening in said foot end portion, said envelope having electric current regulating means secured thereto and having an opening permitting outward passage of an arm of a patient for adjusting said regulating means and the temperature within said envelope.

2. In a portable vapor bath for treating disease, an elongated pliable and collapsible tubular envelope having a lengthwise opening and being of a size adapted to inclose the entire body of a patient, said opening being of a length to be co-extensiv-e with the length of said envelope, means for intimately and releasably closing said opening, said envelope being sufiiciently pliable to permit being placed flat on a bed substantially throughout its entire length, a receptacle for a liquid positioned at the foot end of said envelope, means at the foot end portion of said envelope and being detachably secured to said receptacle for preventing said envelope from collapsing, the head end portion of said pliable envelope being adapted to fit around the neck of the patient, said foot end portion having an aperture, means for vaporizing a liquid, and means for securing said foot end portion around said vaporizing means.

3. Ina portable vapor bath for treating disease, an elongated pliable and collapsible tubular envelope having a lengthwise opening and being of a size adapted to inclose the entire body of a patient while exposing the head of the patient, said opening being of a length to be co-extensive with the length of said envelope, means for intimately and releasably closing said opening, said envelope being sufiiciently pliable to permit placing said envelope flat on a bed substantially throughout its entire length, a receptacle for. a liquid positioned at the foot end of said envelope, means at the foot end portion of said envelope and being detachably secured to said receptacle for preventing said envelope from collapsing, the head end portion of said pliable envelope being adapted to fit around theneck of the patient, said foot end portion having an aperture, means for vaporizing a liquid, means for removing excess moisture and conveying substantially dry vapor into said envelope, and means for securing said foot end portion around said vaporizing means, said envelope having electric current regulating means secured thereto and having an opening permitting outward passage of an arm of a patient for adjusting said regulating means and the temperature within said envelope.

4. In a portable vapor bath for treating disease, an elongated pliable and collapsible tubular envelope having a lengthwise opening and being of a size adapted to inclose the entire body of a patient while exposing the head of the patient, said opening being of a length co-extensive with the length of said envelope, means for intimately and releasably closing said opening, said envelope being sufficiently pliable to permit placing said envelope flat on a bed substantially throughout its entire length, a receptacle for a liquid positioned at the foot end of said envelope, means at the foot end portion of said envelope and being detachably secured to said receptacle for preventing said envelope from collapsing, the head end portion of said pliable envelope being adapted to fit the neck of the patient, said foot end portion having an aperture, means for vaporizing a liquid, means for removing excess moisture and conveying substantially dry vapor into said envelope, and means for securing said foot end portion to said vaporizing means, said envelope in said flat and open position on a bed being adapted for rolling a bedridden patient therein for vapor bath treatment, said envelope having electric current regulating means secured thereto and having an opening permitting outward passage of an arm of a patient for adjusting said regulating means and the temperature within said envelope.

" SAMUEL J. PRESTON. 

